Back in 1997, Abe was the man. Oddworld: Abe’s Odyssee was just released on the PlayStation and it blew up. People loved this kinda creepy man who just wanted to save his fellow Mudokons from being eaten. Now, 17 years later, the original Oddworld is making a comeback in one of the best remakes ever.

Eat or be eaten.

Abe is one of many Mudokons working at Rupture Farms, the Glukkon’s meat processing factory. Though really, he and his kind are all slaves. It wasn’t an amazing life, but they all got by. That is, until the Glukkons start running out of the species used to make their various treats. The Meeches for the Meech Munchies are all gone, and the Scrabs and Paramites for Scrab Cakes and Paramite Pies seem to be running low as well.

Fortunately, Abe was doing his usual janitorial duties when Molluck, head of Rupture Farms, was putting on a presentation announcing the “New ‘n’ Tasty” product – Mudokon Pops!

What follows is a 2.5D journey through every area of Rupture Farms. Abe could easily escape on his own, but he doesn’t. Instead, he scours every area to find his fellow Mudokon. He can run, jump, and roll through areas, then greet, call, and direct his cohorts as he leads them to bird portals. Once there, he can chant to open a doorway to freedom for them.

However, it isn’t as easy as walking through each areas in search of an exit. Sligs, Scrabs, Paramites, and environmental hazards abound. A player will have to have Abe sneak and scout out levels to find the safest passage, luring enemies into traps, outwitting and running them, and eventually using certain powers to ensure everyone’s safety – permanently.

So much to love.

Playing Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty made me fall in love with Abe’s Odyssee, and Oddworld in general, all over again. I can’t imagine I’ll be the only one. When a game is so well made and filled with so many entertaining and engrossing details, it’s hard not to be delighted.

Every aspect of Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty makes players appreciate the work that Just Add Water put into it. The entirety of Abe’s Odyssee has been faithfully recreated in the remake. The narrative has been adjusted just a tad, to make the introduction flow a bit better, but it’s a minor change for the better. The world, both within and outside of Rupture Farms, is filled with subtle nuances and environments that fit every situation. Every character is perfectly detailed and filled with character, and the ambiant sounds really make every area shine.

Though, a part of Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty‘s majesty is its sense of progression. Abe’s quest starts out simply, with the goal of saving as many Mudokon as possible. But once he does finally leave the factory, a more noble goal appears. Not only save the Mudokon, but any species the Glukkon would wish to drive to extinction. This causes the quest itself to get more complicated, and the introduction of new gameplay elements is perfectly handled in a way that makes everything manageable.

Indeed, the PS4 control scheme for Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty screams perfection. While it may take a few levels (and untimely demises) to adjust to the new assignments for those familiar with Abe’s Odyssee, I found this iteration’s assignments more than accomodating. In fact, it’s a delight. Especially since the PS4 allows for quick saves and loads by pressing the touch panel. It was like Just Add Water was on the Mudokons’ (and gamers’) side. That new feature, as well as multiple difficulty levels, means we don’t have to be afraid to take risks and can try new things, knowing we can always do a quick load if our chance resulted in failure.

It’s also important to note that Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is a game that encourages introspection. The plight of the Mudokons can be seen as a parallel to many situations in our own history. It could be seen as a fantastical take on the flight of the Jews from Egypt in the Bible‘s book of Genesis. One could even consider Abe an abolitionist, and consider him running his own variation of an underground railroad within Rupture Farms. If you let it, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty will make you think about the world in general and appreciate the game even more.

There’s one last reason to really love the PS4 version of Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty. Like many other titles, it is a cross buy and cross save game, so when the PS3 and Vita versions are released, you’ll be able to enjoy it on every Sony console for only $30.

Now “this” is a remake.

Oddworld: Abe’s Odyssee was a classic. It was pretty much platforming perfection back in the day, and its distinctive style really made it stand out. The game was one of the reasons to buy a PlayStation. I’m pleased to say that Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty continues that legacy and the early PS4 release will make people who picked this console proud. If you wanted to know how a perfect remake or reimagining looks, this game is the ideal example. It preserves everything gamers loved about Abe’s Odyssee, while again making this virtual world the sweetest eye and ear candy. Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty is everything a remake should be, and all gamers should be excited about joining Abe on his odyssee again.